Protective storage structure for snow-mobiles

ABSTRACT

A structure for providing protection for snow-mobile riders and storage at the rear end of the vehicle. A rigid frame extends upwards over the rear of the vehicle to prevent the riders from being crushed and upon this frame a rear-seat back rest and a tray may be mounted to provide storage.

United States Patent 5] Apiafi, 1072 aker [54] PROTECTIVE STORAGESTRUCTURE FOR SNOW-MOBILES [72] Inventor: Frederick A. Baker, Toronto,Ontario,

Canada [73] Assignee: Alltrack Vehicles Limited, Weston, On-

tario, Canada [22] Filed:' Apr. 10, 1970 211 App1.No.: 21,370

[52} 11.8. CI. ..280/150 R, 180/5 R, 224/4244, 280/150 C, 297/391 [51]Int. Cl. ..B60r 9/06 [58] Field of Search 180/5 R; 280/150 C, 289,150 R;D90/1, 8.1, 16; 297/191, 391, 397; 224/4221, 42.44

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,552,514 1/1971 Alpers..280/150CX D2l6,609 2/1970 Ross ..D90/16 3,146,001 8/1964 McFadyen..280/150 C 1,648,094 11/1927 Williams ..224/42.44

OTHER PUBLICATIONS Bel-Mart Catalog Received Mar. 14, 1968, p. 1, SissyBar" in the middle Banner Manufacturing Company Catalog sheet receivedMar. 14, 1968, High-Rise Support Bar No. PSB- 5 at left PrimaryExaminerBenjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Winston H. DouglasAttorney-Sim & McBurney [57] ABSTRACT A structure for providingprotection for snow-mobile riders and storage at the rear end of thevehicle. A rigid frame extends upwards over the rear of the vehicle toprevent the riders from being crushed and upon this frame a rear-seatback rest and a tray may be mounted to provide storage.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing F lgures PATENTED APR 2 5 1972 I N VEN TOR. f/-'-'-FREDERICK A. BAKER PROTECTIVE STORAGE STRUCTURE FOR SNOW- MOBILES Thisinvention relates to snow-mobiles and more particularly to means forproviding protection and comfort for the riders and storage.

The use of snow-mobile vehicles both for commerce and pleasure hasincreased considerably in recent years and with this increase theaccident rate frequency has also increased.

As presently constructed most of these vehicles accommodate two riders.The position of the rear rider is precarious. The front rider has thesteering mechanism to grip whereas the rear rider is normally providedwith a pair of side handles. If the machine accidentally turns over, therear rider is more prone to injury and head injuries are common.

A second shortcoming of snow-mobiles is the absence of storage or stowspace. Normally, if the rider has to carry any equipment, a trailedtoboggan has to be employed. No storage space is presently provided onthese vehicles for bulky items.

A further shortcoming is the vulnerability of the gasoline tank. In manysnowmobiles the tanks are made of plastic or any equivalent material andare mounted at the rear of the vehicle. These tanks are not normallyprotected from impact and as a consequence in cold weather the tanksbecome brittle and in collisions the tank frequently catches fire onimpact.

It is therefore the main object of the present invention to providemeans whereby a storage facility may be provided for snow-mobiles and atthe same time a measure of comfort and protection for the riders.

There is accordingly provided, in accordance with the present invention,a rigid frame structure which may be mounted adjacent the rear end of asnow-mobile. A cushioned member may be mounted across this frame toprovide a backrest for the rear seat and a hinged or otherwise movabletray may be mounted within the frame above the gasoline tank to permitaccess to the tank while providing storage. A further feature which maybe incorporated is the provision of a rack for holding long objects.

Other features and objects of the present invention ,will be moreapparent from the following description and drawings in which a specificembodiment is illustrated by way of example and in which:

FIG. I is a three-quarter perspective view from the front of aprotective structure in accordance with'the present invention and inwhich the rear end of a snow-mobile is shown in dotted outline; and

FIG. 2 is a three-quarter perspective view from the rear of thestructure illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. I and 2 are threequarterperspective views from the front and rear, respectively, of a preferredembodiment of the present invention mounted upon a snow-mobile vehicle,the rear end of which is shown in dotted outline.

Those parts of the rear end of the vehicle which are shown comprise aframe 30 below which the track and rear drive wheel 35 and 32,respectively, are visible. Mounted on frame 30, there is a hand rail 32and the seat of the vehicle is indicated at 33. Immediately rearward ofthe seat upon the frame 30 there is a gas tank 34.

As illustrated the preferred embodiment comprises a framelike structureshown in solid outline with side members 11 and 12 so disposed or spacedapart that they will sit upon and be secured to the hand rails 32. Sidemembers 11 and 12 are preferably tubular in form being bent toanydesirable configuration such as that shown to provide a bottom railIS, a top rail I6, a substantially vertical rear rail 17 and an upwardlyand a rearwardly sloping front rail 18. Between the two side members 11and 12 a cushioned member 14 is secured to extend between the twocorresponding front rails 18. The structure of the cushion comprises asubstantially rigid rear plate, which-is not visible, secured by meansof screws to the corresponding side rails and to this plate there isattached a cushioning material such as foam or its equivalent and asuitable leather or plastic cover. The bottom rails 15 are each securedto their corresponding hand rail 32 again by means of screws or weldingand adjacent the rear end, near the junction of rear rail 17, and thebottom rail 15, a transverse rail or rod extends. A corresponding railor rod 20 may also be secured between the upper rails 16 in the mannershown.

Intermediate the height of the side members 11 and 12 two laterallyextending rails 21 and 22 are mounted. These rails are substantiallyL-shaped and provide a flange upon which a tray 23 may be mounted. Tray23 has an upwardly extending rim 24 along its rearmost edge whichengages with the adjacent inner surface of the rear rails 17. Tray 23may also be hinged at its forward end so that it will move in the mannershown in FIG. 2 or it may simply be seated in position being held inthat position by its relationship between the adjacent side rails andrear rails and the weight of any load which may be deposited thereupon.

It is to be noted that the disposition of the lateral rails 21 and 22and the tray 23 is immediately above the gas tank 34. The hingeing ormovable characteristic of the tray 23 permits the driver to have accessto the gas tank while at the same time providing a facility for storingany articles which may wish to be stored upon the tray.

From the rear surfaces of rails 19 and 20 a series of rearwardlyextending projections such as 26 are provided. Each of these projectionshas a terminal hook 27 and an elastic band 28. These hooks and bandsserve to support any long objects such as the skis, 29, shown in dottedoutline.

It is to be noted that the rear surface of the rear rail I7 extend to apoint adjacent the rear end of the vehicle and rearward of the gas tank24. This feature together with the transversely extending bar 19 and thetray 23 provide a means for minimizing any impact from the rear of thevehicle. The provision of the cushion on the forward rails 18 alsoprovides a measure of support for the rear seat rider. The entirestructure will also provide a measure of protection to the rear seatrider in the event that the machine topples in that it will act as arollbar serving to prevent the riders from being crushed.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the structure whichhas been described in the above description simultaneously provides ameasure of protection for the rider and the gasoline tank from rearwardimpact and will assist in spacing the machine away from the riders inthe event that it is toppled. It also provides a certain amount ofstorage space.

The structure has been described with reference to a frame. It will ofcourse be obvious that other enclosed structures may be provided andother modifications made without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A protective structure for snow-mobile vehicle riders comprising:

a rigid frame including a pair of side members adapted to be mounted andsecured to a snow-mobile on opposed sides adjacent the rear end thereof,said members extending upwardly for a predetermined distance;

a forwardly facing cushioned member connected to said side membersadjacent the forward ends thereof to provide passenger back rest;

at least one rigid transversely extending member secured to said sidemembers in a spaced apart relationship adjacent the rear end of saidvehicle,

a pair of lateral members each providing a lateral inwardly extendingflange,

and a movable shelf dimensioned to be seated upon the said flanges.

2. A protective structure as claimed in claim I, in which the shelf ishinged at its forward edge to said rigid frame.

3. A protective structure as claimed in claim 1 including a pair ofrigid transversely extending members, one of said members being securedto said side members adjacent the rear bottom end thereof, the other ofsaid members being secured to said side members adjacent the topthereof.

4. A protective structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first andsecond mentioned transverse rigid members each have at least oneprojection thereof extending in parallel and an elastic member removablysecured thereto.

1. A protective structure for snow-mobile vehicle riders comprising: arigid frame including a pair of side members adapted to be mounted andsecured to a snow-mobile on opposed sides adjacent the rear end thereof,said members extending upwardly for a predetermined distance; aforwardly facing cushioned member connected to said side membersadjacent the forward ends thereof to provide passenger back rest; atleast one rigid transversely extending member secured to said sidemembers in a spaced apart relationship adjacent the rear end of saidvehicle, a pair of lateral members each providing a lateral inwardlyextending flange, and a movable shelf dimensioned to be seated upon thesaid flanges.
 2. A protective structure as claimed in claim 1, in whichthe shelf is hinged at its forward edge to said rigid frame.
 3. Aprotective structure as claimed in claim 1 including a pair of rigidtransversely extending members, one of said members being secured tosaid side members adjacent the rear bottom end thereof, the other ofsaid members being secured to said side members adjacent the topthereof.
 4. A protective structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein saidfirst and second mentioned transverse rigid members each have at leastone projection thereof extending in parallel and an elastic memberremovably secured thereto.